Six Zika virus cases detected in Honiara, Solomon Islands
Six Zika virus cases detected in Honiara, Solomon Islands
The Ministry Of Health & Medical Services - Solomon Islands (MHMS) issued a red alert for Zika virus after six lab confirmed cases were detected in Honiara by the Molecular Laboratory at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) as of 30th September 2023.
This has prompted health officials to alert the public to clear mosquito-breeding sites.
Solomon Islands recorded the first Zika virus outbreak in 2015, with five PCR-confirmed cases in Honiara and more than 300 suspected cases, from February to May, 2015. Due to limited lab testing at that time, the extent of the outbreak in other provinces was not fully known.
Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, the same mosquito that causes dengue fever and which mostly bites during the day. Zika virus infection is usually mild and most people do not show symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, the symptoms may appear 3-14 days after being infected. The symptoms include rash, fever, non-purulent conjunctivitis (red eyes with no pus), muscle and joint pain, generally feeling unwell and headache which can last for 2-7 days. The symptoms of zika infection is similar to other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and therefore requires laboratory confirmation for proper diagnosis.
Although Zika virus infection is mild, it can cause serious medical conditions such as microcephaly (a birth complication, babies born with small heads) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a rare condition that damages the body’s immune system).
Currently there are no cure for Zika virus but the most effective measure to prevent its transmission is to reduce the population of its vectors near our residential areas or properties.